26 Mar 21

Hamm Beach to Chesil Beach Visitors Centre

Having been to the supermarket next to Hamm Beach and also timed it for when the rain had stopped, Ted and I headed off along the old railway track towards Ferrybridge.

However we didn't quite make the bridge, as in the distance it looked like another band of showers were heading our way. So at the Chesil Beach Centre we did an about turn and headed back to Hamm Beach.

There were some great highlights along the way with my first Wheatear of year at Hamm Beach and at the other end of the walk a Redshank was feeding in the pools next to the Chesil Beach Carpark. In between there were 14 Turnstone on the beach and a single bird perched on one of the boulders close to the Wheatear.

A small flock of 12 Linnets were heading south over the harbour, whilst keeping a beaded eye on what was going on around him, a male Kestrel was sat on a lamp post.

Here are a few images and videos from today:

Hamm Beach and the busy Portland Beach Road.

On the boulders I came across my first Wheatear of the year.

Also on the boulders was this Meadow Pipit and a......

........Turnstone.

On the beach itself were 14 Turnstone, here are 7 of them. Honest!!

And a couple more further up the beach.

You can see how Turnstones get their name.

The old Easton to Weymouth railway track, with the Portland Beach Road running alongside

On the harbour side these Dark-bellied Brent Geese dropped in briefly, before being spooked by a couple of Wind-Surfers.

And this Redshank dropped into the pools by the Chesil Beach Car Park.

It managed to keep still for a short movie and then became a.......

.............bit jittery, moving back and forth over the pools.

Here it is slightly closer.

Unfortunately a dog scared it off and it headed up and over Chesil Beach.

With the tide out, it was a great opportunity to see what was lurking under the rocks. A Blenny possibly. One to ID later.

And another which had a slightly different colouration.

And one of many Shore Crabs. This one looked like he was about to challenge me.

I have no idea what this is, but there were quite a few along the shoreline.

And here he comes. Ted's certainly not one for missing out on a walk along the beach

And we weren't the only ones making our way towards the mainland. Here is my other half Dawn in her very smart looking Smart Car.

Birds Recorded: 2 Cormorant, 12 Dark-bellied Brent Goose, 1 Kestrel, 1 Redshank, 14 Turnstone, Herring Gull, 3 Skylark, 2 Meadow Pipit, 1 Wheatear, Carrion Crow, Starling and 12 Linnet

Fish Recorded: Rockling/Blenny sp.

Crustaceans Recorded: Shore Crabs

Ships Today

This is the British Replenishment Ship "RFA Tidespring", being helped into to Portland Harbour. More on this vessel Here. 


Note: Don't forget that this Sunday 28th March 2021, a Super Worm Moon will be peaking at 19:48pm GMT. More on the Worm Moon Here

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.

25 Mar 21

Wakeham

Another one of those days of sunshine and showers. No walk today as I had quite a bit to do in the back garden.

Here's a video from today:


Here are the Khaki Campbell ducklings at 9 days old. And dare I say it doing very well.

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.

24 Mar 21

Out and About

Today was only the 5th time I have left the island during this third Lockdown. The dogs had the groomers, I had to buy some Straw for the ducks and then late morning pick up the pooches Advocate and Dronsit. 

As it was pointless driving back to Portland and then to drive back again, I took the opportunity to do a couple of 30 minute walks around Lodmoor and the same again at Radipole.

The weather wasn't brilliant, but at least it wasn't wet and I managed several new bird species for my year list:

Lodmoor RSPB Reserve

It looks like Lodmoor has had a bit of a short back and sides. Those pools which were once hidden behind the reeds, look pretty good now from the roadside.

Along my walk I came across a pair of leg ringed Mute Swans 

Hopefully I will be able to get some more info on these two.

A Grey Heron keeps very still next to one of the waterways.

There were so many Chiffchaffs about.

They were either feeding or...........

..........being very vocal.

Birds Recorded at Lodmoor (New for year in Red): 1 Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Teal, Shoveler, Tufted Duck, 1 Marsh Harrier, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, Bearded Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch

Radipole RSPB Reserve

The open water and reed beds close to the Visitors Centre, where a...........

.......Great Crested Grebe was doing a spot of fishing. Below are two videos of it doing just that.

A Great Crested Grebe fishing

And again, before it headed off behind the reedbeds.

A Cetti's Warbler. Hmm, moving on

Under one of the bridges were at least 4 Common Carp

Birds Recorded at Radipole (New for year in Red): Great Crested Grebe, Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Mallard, Tufted Duck, Pochard, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Cetti's Warbler, Chiffchaff, , Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Reed Bunting

Fish Recorded: 4 Common Carp

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.

23 Mar 21

Lower Horse Paddock, Broadcroft Butterfly Reserve, Broadcroft Quarry Lane, Bumpers Lane, Rufus Castle, Church Ope Cove, St Andrew's Church and Penns Wood

Another very sunny day, though a lot cooler than yesterday. Despite it feeling chilly, there were quite a few insects about especially in the more sheltered spots.

In Penns Wood I came across my first Hairy-footed Flower Bee of the year on a flowering Russian Comfrey and on the Comfrey leaves I came across at least 10 Common Green Shieldbugs.

Also in the wood was a Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), and two other bee species which didn't stop long enough to be ID'd further than a nomad sp. and a mining bee sp.

Only migrant bird seen today was a Skylark heading north over the Butterfly Reserve and also ticked off my first Linnet of the year along Bumpers lane.

Here are a few images from today:

A rather smart looking Goldfinch at the cove.

If its sunny, warm and sheltered from the wind there is always a good chance of seeing a Wall Lizard.

I came across at least 3 Commas this afternoon, plus a couple of Peacocks.

With the Russian Comfrey now in flower, I was half expecting to see a Hairy-footed Flower Bee and....

........I wasn't disappointed.

Penns Wood is also a good spot for Common Green Shieldbugs.

In fact I came a across a good ten or so, plus..........

...........in keeping with the theme of "hairy", there was also a Hairy Shieldbug here as well.

Not on the Comfrey, but on an Alexanders in Penns Wood, a Grey-patched Mining-bee

A bit of fun with a few shots of Ted on one frame.

Birds Recorded: 1 Kestrel, Herring Gull, Wood Pigeon, 1 Skylark, 1 Rock Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, House Sparrow, Chaffinch, Linnet, Goldfinch and 4 Greenfinch

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard (Podarcis muralis)

Butterflies Recorded: 2 Peacock and 3 Comma

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes), Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida), a Nomad sp. and a mining bee sp.

Hoverflies Recorded: Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax) and Spotted Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva auricollis)

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and 1 Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major)

Bugs and Beetles Recorded: 10+ Common Green Shieldbug (Palomena prasina) and a Hairy Shieldbug (Dolycoris baccarum)

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.

22 Mar 21

Penns Wood, St Andrew's Church, Church Ope Cove, Penn's Weare, Penn's Copse, Rufus Castle and Mermaid Track

Well my walk started off with wall to wall cloud, but by the time I had reached halfway, the sun was out and there was hardly a cloud to be seen.

The only migrants seen on my walk were Meadow Pipits, with a slow trickle heading north. In fact even this afternoon, that trickle continued.

Elsewhere it looks like the Long-tailed Tits have finished building their nest at the cove, and now it will be a long wait until the youngsters hopefully hatch.

There were a lot more invertebrates out today and unsurprisingly there were quiet a few Wall Lizards and even a couple of Common Lizards out as well. The latter seen on Penn's Weare.

Just two species of butterfly seen, a Small White in the church grounds, 2 Peacocks at the cove and 3 more Peacocks along the Mermaid Track.

With the Blackthorn now flowering there is definite rise in bee numbers. A majority on my walk were Honey Bees, but there were also a few Buff-tailed Bumblebees, White-tailed Bumblebees, Early Bumblebee and if I have this correct a Grey-patched Mining Bee. The latter my first for the year

Just 4 species of hoverfly seen. There were several Common Droneflies, Marmalade Hoverflies, Spotted Meliscaeva and a Syrphus torvus.

Another first for the year was a "miniature" Dark-edged Bee-fly, on the track along the the south facing cliff at the cove.

Here are a few images and a video from today:

One of the local Sparrowhawks over Penn's Weare.

And as the sun came out, so did several.........

...........Wall Lizards.

The two above were in the church grounds and this one by Rufus Castle

A Honey Bee

One of many Buff-tailed Bumblebees out now.

And one of the andrena bee species. This is a Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida). Had it had an orange tip on its abdomen it would have been an Early Mining Bee (Andrena haemorrhoa)

And the hoverfly Eristalis tenax (Common Dronefly)

Another hoverfly, this time a Spotted Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva auricollis) 

And I presume this a Syrphus torvus hoverfly. Apparently one of the first Syrphus hoverflies to appear on Portland so I have been informed.

And this little beauty is a Dark-edged Bee-fly. And when I say little, I mean little. Like the hoverfly family, the size of the adult is dependant on how the larvae fed. They are obviously under nourished on the island, as this particular species of bee-fly is normally a lot bigger.

Nice calm waters at the cove and Ted seems to be enjoying himself.

However he nearly got caught out.

Birds Recorded: 1 Cormorant, 1 Sparrowhawk, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Wood Pigeon, Meadow Pipit, Dunnock, Robin, Blackbird, Long-tailed Tit, Great Tit, Blue Tit, Wren, Magpie, Carrion Crow, 1 Raven, House Sparrow, Chaffinch and Goldfinch

Reptiles Recorded: Wall Lizard and Common Lizard

Butterflies Recorded: 1 Small White, 5 Peacock

Bees Recorded: Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Early Bumblebee (Bombus pratorum), Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), White-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus lucorum) and Grey-patched Mining Bee (Andrena nitida)

Hoverflies Recorded: Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus), Common Dronefly (Eristalis tenax), Spotted Meliscaeva (Meliscaeva auricollis) and  a Syrphus torvus

Flies, Craneflies, Gnats and Midges Recorded: Kelp Fly (Coelopa frigida) and a Dark-edged Bee-fly (Bombylius major)

Ships Today

This is the British Offshore Supply Ship "Ocean Osprey" out on Fishery Patrol. More on this vessel Here.

Having picked up this ship through my binoculars, I was half expecting to see a Royal Fleet Auxiliary Vessel, instead I got the British Aircraft Carrier "HMS Prince of Wales". According Marine Traffic it is moored up in Portsmouth Harbour. More on this vessel Here.

There were also 2 aircraft overhead. I'm now wondering whether they were part of "HMS Prince of Wales" manoeuvres.

NB: Thank you to my good friend Ed Wilson who informed me that the aircraft I saw, are from a dozen or so Falcon 10s operated by now what is called Draken Leasing, which is the new name for what used to be Cobham Leasing, before that FR Aviation and before that Flight Refuelling all operating out of Hurn. All are fitted with various electronic gadgetry to cooperate on military training by jamming and / or as 'threats'

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On this day
2020
Today's Sightings Here

2019
Today's Sightings Here.

2018
Today' Sightings Here.
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